Footwear



Aug. 3O, 1927. 1,640,857

J. SOLOMON FOOTWEAR Filed Dec. 30, 1922 III IIIIIIIII i an ucnfoz Patented Aug. 30, 1927.

JULIUH SQLOMON, 0M OBJEJBLLIN, OHIO.

FQGTWEM.

Application filed December 30, was. Serial No. 609,808.

tive position the various bones of the loot.

and particularly the arch portion thereof so as to prevent any impairment or breaking down of such arch.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a generally improved support for footwear through the medium of improved heel and shun I forming and supporting members, the heel being provided with an improved arch or shank supporting" bridge member in the specific form of an integral extension having its upper portion curved to conform to the normal contour of the shank portion of the shoe and having a list tread portion torming an extension oi" the tread. portion ot the heel and bridging the space. between the latter and the hall portion of the shoe sole.

and very important object the provi: on of a generally improved arch and heel on port for footwear which may be either forn'ied as a part of and a rein torcement for shoes or boots as originally manufactured, or as an auailiary or addi tional appliance or attachment in lieu oi the ordinary arch support and as an improvement thereon.

With the above mentioned and other ends invention consi ts in novel in View, l construe of parts, someoit' arch supporting bridge member detached from the shoe upper.

Fig. 4, a fragmentary side elevation of a shoe equipped with a modified form embodying an offset half heel or heel lift.

Fig. 5, a sideolevation of the same, detached.

Fig. 6, a perspective view of the underside of an ordinary shoe equipped with a support embodying integral heel, bridge and sole members, the latter in the present instance being slightly inset from the marginal edges of the original sole and shoe upper.

Similar numerals of reference designate like parts throughout all the-figures of-tho drawings:

The general form of the boot or shoe, except as hereinafter referred to in connection with my improved construction and arrangement of parts, may be of any suitable and convenient construction. My i1nprove incnts may be incorporated in shoes of widely (littering forms and types, being adaptable for use in connection with ladies shoes and with heels of different styles, as for example, relatively low heels or relatively high or French heels. The term shoe as hereinafter referred to is understood to include a hoot and in which similar parts and features may be included.

The shoe may be provided with the usual shoe sole 1, with the usual arch or shank portion l, and the heel receiving portion 1".

its a means ot providinr a suitable arch and heel support for the oot, and particularly as a means of reinforcing the shoe and causing the same to retain its original contour or shape to properly support the foot at all times, an improved support is provided, su'l support comprising a shoe heel 2, and an integral arch supporting bridge member El. lhe heel 2 may he of any suitable term or type and likewise the bridge memloer or inrtension 2. Tbs arch supporting exten- "on or loridp; .11 is curved at its upper sun contorm to and support the oi: the slum and is provic d ilat cr-iul oo t'i' witlii and i of attaching elements or tacks 2. The sides of the bridge or extension member may-be undercut or bevelled, as at 2 forming a relatively narrow shank portion for coming into direct contact with the surface below. By reason of the fact that the lower tread portion of the bridge or extension comes into direct contact with the around or other surface tread upon, it will be seen'that the weight of the arch of the foot and the shank portion of the shoe are supported directly thereon, and it will also be obvious by reason of the fact that this member bridges the space between the heel shank and sole portions of the shoe, that such bridge or filler member also reinforces and connects the shank and heel portions of the shoe relative to each other.

If desired, an offset half heel or heel lift 2 may be provided in lieu of the full heel 2, shown in Figs. 1, 2, 8 and 6 of the drawings, and in which instance, as shown in Figs. i and 5 of the drawings, a" shoulder 22, is provided to abut against the breast portion of the upper heel lifts of the shoe heel 2.

llf desired, the extension or bridge member 2 may continue into and form a part of a shoe sole 1, as shown in Fig. \6 of the drawings and if desired, such shoe sole 1 may take the form of an auxiliary sole having its edges slightly inset from the marginal edges of the main sole 1 and the shoe upper, as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, and particularly when applied to a ladys shoe,

The marginal edges of the heel 2 and of the bridge or tiller 2 are preferably in- -wardly bevelled as at 2 to conform to the contour of the adjacent shank and heel poreeann? tions of the shoe and when a full sole is used the edges thereof are similarly bevelled to conform to the main sole or the shoe upper. For the purpose of'lessening the weight of and the material in the improved support, the bridge or extension member 2 may be provided with a central channel portion 2, terminating in a heel opening or cavity 2, as shown most clearly in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings. lit should be understood also that the improved support may be made of any suitable and convenient resilient material, preferably of rubber as shown,and that the heel and bridge members are preferably formed integral with each other.

Having thus described some. of the embodiments of my invention, without having attempted to set forth all the forms in which it may be made, or all the modes of its use,

what it claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,-

lin combination with the shank portion of a shoe, a shoe heel having an integral extension forming an arch supporting bridge extending beneath said shank portion of the shoe, said shoe heel and arch supporting bridge having their tread surfaces extending flush with each other and being respectively provided with heel and channel shaped cavities on their upper surfaces, the marginal edges of said shoe heel and bridge being inwardly bevelled to conform to the contour of said shank and the heel portions of the shoe.

in testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

JULIUS sononoivv 

